Connector supporting structure

Abstract

A connector supporting structure includes a female connector 4 temporarily engaged in a bracket 3 fixed to an instrumental panel 1 and a male connector 5 where a cam lever 27 is rotatably supported by a male connector housing 26 . Since a rotation handling part 39 of the cam lever 27 butts against a step part 16 A of the bracket 3 to receive a reaction force, the cam lever 27 is rotated to effect the engagement between the connectors 4, 5 . On the lateral side of the front end of a male connector housing 26 , protective cover parts 26 B are formed so as to extend sideways. Before fitting the connector 4 to the connector 5 , the protective cover parts 26 B operate to protect the rotation handling part 39 . When fitting the connector 4 to the connector 5 , the protective cover parts 26 B come into contact with a guide slant face 15 a formed on the bracket 3 , so that the cam lever 27 can be prevented from being broken.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A connector supporting structure comprising: 
       an attachment member;  
       a first connector to be temporarily engaged with the attachment member, the first connector having a first connector housing on which at least one guide projection is formed; and  
       a second connector for engagement with the first connector, the second connector having a second connector housing; and  
       at least one cam lever rotatably supported on the second connector housing, the cam lever having a cam groove formed therein to guide the guide projection of the first connector and a rotating handling part formed for abutment against the attachment member; wherein  
       the second connector housing has at least one protective cover part formed on one side of a front end of the second connector housing, the front end facing the first connector in arrangement; and  
       the cam lever is supported on the second connector housing in a manner that the rotating handling part occupies its position behind the protective covering part when the cam lever is arranged in its initial position against the second connector housing in advance of the engagement of the second connector with the first connector;  
       whereby the approach of the second connector toward the first connector allows the rotating handling part of the cam lever to abut against the attachment member and also causes the cam lever to be rotated thereby to engage the first connector with the second connector.  
     
     
       2. A connector supporting structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein 
       the attachment member comprises a cylindrical bracket which is fixed on an opening of a plate member to have a cylindrical port communicating with the opening of the plate member, the bracket being adapted so as to have the first connector temporarily engaged therein and also having a guide part formed on an inner face of the bracket to guide the protective cover part to an innermost part of the bracket.  
     
     
       3. A connector supporting structure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the bracket has an engagement step part formed behind the guide part in a direction to engage the first connector with the second connector, for engagement with the rotating handling part. 
     
     
       4. A connector supporting structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein 
       the guide part is in the form of a projection having a slant face inclined to the direction to engage the first connector with the second connector.  
     
     
       5. A connector supporting structure as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein 
       the cam lever is provided, in the vicinity of the rotating handling part, with a lever temporary-engagement piece which is engaged with the second connector housing, for temporarily engaging the cam lever in the initial position.  
     
     
       6. A connector supporting structure as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein 
       the cam groove has at least one part formed so as to gradually approach a rotational center of the cam lever.  
     
     
       7. A connector supporting structure as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein 
       a distance between the part of the cam groove and the rotational center is smaller than a distance between the rotating handling part and the rotational center of the cam lever.  
     
     
       8. A connector supporting structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein 
       the bracket has a temporary engagement piece formed for engagement with the guide projection of the first connector thereby to effect the temporarily engagement of the bracket with the first connector.  
     
     
       9. A connector supporting structure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein 
       the temporarily engagement of the bracket with the first connector is released by the cam lever on the second connector when the second connector is engaged with the first connector.